Long-term safety of etanercept in psoriasis: Retrospective study focused on infections

Diego Orsini; Alessandra Narcisi; Annalisa Arcese; Antonio Costanzo

doi:10.1177/0300060515593252

Long-term safety of etanercept in psoriasis: Retrospective study focused on infections

J Int Med Res. 2016 Sep;44(1 suppl):58-60. doi: 10.1177/0300060515593252.

Authors

Diego Orsini¹, Alessandra Narcisi¹, Annalisa Arcese¹, Antonio Costanzo²

Affiliations

¹ Dermatology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
² Dermatology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy antonio.costanzo@uniroma1.it.

Abstract

Objective: Retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of infectious adverse events in patients with psoriasis treated with etanercept.

Methods: Patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who were treated with etanercept (50 mg, administered weekly via subcutaneous injection) for ≥48 weeks were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were screened for occult infections before treatment commenced, and then every 12 months thereafter. Minor (not requiring hospitalization and/or discontinuation of treatment) and major (requiring hospitalization and/or discontinuation of treatment) infectious events were recorded.

Results: The study included 50 patients. Minor infectious events included self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections (six patients), lower urinary tract infections (one patient) and recurrent herpes simplex labialis (two patients). Major infections occurred in only two cases.

Conclusion: These data support the good safety profile of etanercept in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Keywords: Etanercept; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; safety; tumour necrosis factor-α.